Search by Topic  Choose a Topic Accessories Amplification Amplifiers Analog Audio Furniture Bookshelf CD Players Cables And Power Products Cartridges Custom Install D/A Converters DVD Players Digital Displays Full-Range HDTV Hometheater Integrated Amps Phono Stages Pre-amps Speakers Speakers In/On Wall Subwoofers Surround Theater Processors Tonearms Tuners Turntables Video Processors In the confusing array of similar cable brands and manufacturers, one company stands apart. That company is Nordost, creator of the original Flatline cable. Today Nordost offers a multitude of high performance cables, encompassing all areas of home entertainment. Derived from technology developed for the aerospace, medical, and computer industries, Nordost’s unique, patented designs and proprietary FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene) extrusion process produces a level of performance of which other cable companies can only dream. At Nordost, cable design is not a 'Black Art' based on trial and error and questionable pseudo-scientific claims; rather, all Nordost cables are manufactured to a degree of accuracy and concentricity that is unmatched in the cable industry. All of the measurable characteristics of Nordost cables -- capacitance, signal propagation and inductance -- are vastly superior, thus reducing the filter effect. This is why Nordost prints the cable specifications on all packaging. The result of this state of the art technology is a product which will delight and move the listener with its outstanding musical performance. CONDUCTORS Nordost cables use multiple, individually insulated Solid Core conductors to eliminate strand interaction. In stranded designs the signal jumps from strand to strand reducing signal integrity. By using multiple, separately insulated conductors, skin effect and distortion are virtually eliminated. Ultrasonic cleaning of each conductor surface before the extrusion process ensures optimum performance. By using solid core extruded silver over OFC (Oxygen Free Copper) conductors, strand interaction, hot spots and carbonization--which can occur in stranded cables--are eliminated, ensuring optimum performance. FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene) FEP is a co-polymer of polytetrafluoroethene and hexafluoropropylene. It is a soft plastic with relatively high tensile strength, high chemical resistance, a low coefficient of friction, and low dielectric constant that is useful over a wide range of temperatures. Once the cable is encapsulated in extruded FEP it cannot degrade or oxidize. In fact, as the cable is used and burned-in, it improves like vintage wine. Traditional manufacturing of Teflon cables involves laminating two sheets of FEP over the conductors. This method is neither precise nor accurate, and results in de-lamination and oxidation of the conductors over time. Nordost cables are encapsulated using pellets of FEP which are melted at high temperature to a liquid that flows and forms around the conductor. The FEP is solidified in a water bath, creating a homogeneous bond where de-lamination is impossible. Any conventional cable which uses PVC or or Polyethylene as an insulation material has already undergone conductor oxidation from the moment of manufacture, resulting in an imperfect surface that ruins signal integrity. As a result of their extreme toughness and flat, thin profile, Nordost cables can easily be hidden under carpeting, moldings and behind baseboards. They are ideal for difficult home theater installations and can even be run to outdoor speakers. Nordost cables are also perfect for use in harsh marine environments such as boats. This is due to the fact that the cables are impervious to moisture and are not affected by the corrosive effects of seawater. Nordost cables can withstand temperatures up to 390 degrees F and down to -65 degrees F without breaking down or exhibiting any change in performance. All Nordost cables pass the Flammability requirements of the UL910 Tunnel Test. This is a test by Underwriters Laboratory Inc to ensure that the cable will not burn. MICRO MONO-FILAMENT Micro Mono-Filament technology is a proprietary process developed by Nordost Corporation. This technology reduces the effect of the insulation material. The sonic result is superb detail, sound staging, and musical reproduction. Micro Mono-Filament uses a thread of FEP which is helically wound over each highly polished conductor. A precision FEP jacket is then extruded over the thread and the conductor. A number of proprietary methods are used in this difficult and extremely precise manufacturing technique that reduces dielectric contact by a factor of more than 80%. Extremely mechanically stable, the conductors are effectively suspended in inert air, preventing oxidation and ensuring perfect signal integrity. DUAL MONO-FILAMENT This patented technology offers even better performance than the Micro Mono- Filament design. This construction uses two FEP Mono-Filament threads which are wound around one another. The Dual Mono-Filaments are then drawn around the conductor in a very precise helix pattern. This construction introduces more air space around the conductors and insulation contact with the conductors is reduced by more than 85%. It is an article of faith amongst those of us who use Nordost Reference Valhalla cables that they are the least colored and most neutral signal products ever designed. Remarkably, this faith is about to be challenged by Nordost itself with the introduction of their ODIN SUPREME REFERENCE cable system. Simply put, the is the finest collection of interconnects and speaker cables (power products are on the way!) ever to be made and come closer to sounding like “no cable” than anything I have ever heard including Valhalla. What does the ODIN sound like? Well, like nothing, of course! But, if you want to know what happens when you substitute ODIN for Valhalla: Take the extraordinary effortless, temporal and spatial organization which Valhalla brings to musical signals (and which makes every other cable sound sluggish and slow) and add a whole new dimension of harmonic definition and texture without even slightly diluting the speed and order which set Valhala apart, and you have ODIN. Add a palable extension of bandwidth on the top and bottom and you have ODIN. Listening to ODIN after listening to Valhalla, every note sounds more real in and of itself and in the context of all the other notes being rendered not only in terms of timing and speed, but also in regards to harmonic structure, pace and temporal texture. (Borrowing generously Roy Gregory’s review, “Hi Fi Plus” date..) Replacing all your Valhalla with ODIN is the Holy Grail, but changing even one Valhalla cable for one ODIN cable is enough to transform sound of an above average audio system to an almost unbelievable degree. If replacing the penultimate cable with ODIN brings you so much closer to the music, what happens, you may ask, if you sustitute ODIN for any other manufacturers cable? The answer is the sonic equivalent of the parting of the waters, drawing water out of a rock, or mana from heaven, (Maybe it should be called the Moses cable.) ODIN performance does not come cheap, even though, the results are well worth the cost. Fortunately, Sound by Singer and Nordost have put together and exceptionally brilliant trade-in program for both Nordost and other cable owners. Very simply put, we will take back any Nordost cable for it’s full retail price, cable for cable and length for length against the price of the same length and type of Nordost ODIN cable. On a 1-meter length, the retail price of ODIN cables are 3 1/2 times that of Valhalla which, while extremely expensive, is exceptionally reasonable considering what just one ODIN interface does for your system and a bargain when you think about the cost of other manufacturers’ top of the line cables which don’t do anything nearly as well. Fortunately, additional meters are priced quite a bit more reasonably. For example, while a 1-meter of ODIN interconnect is $16,000. each additional meter is only $4,000 more. While it may be hard to get your head around wires which cost so much, try to think of what you would spend to eliminate the negative effect that wires have in the first place when used between components, and I think you will agree that ODIN, which nearly realizes this bit of magic, is worth every penny. I will contact you in the next week of so to follow up on this letter. Meanwhile, happy listening and think about what ODIN can bring to that experience. VALHALLA SPEAKER CABLE SPECIFICATIONS INSULATION High purity class 1 extruded FEP CONSTRUCTION Micro Mono-Filament design CONDUCTORS x 40 optimized diameter solid core MATERIALS 78 microns of extruded silver over 99.999999% OFC CAPACITANCE 11.8pF/ft INDUCTANCE 0.96uH/ft PROPAGATION 96% speed of light       VALHALLA REFERENCE SPEAKER CABLE has become the standard by which all other cables are judged. To quote Harry Pearson of The Absolute Sound: “Let me put it as plainly as possible. The Valhalla system from Nordost is the least colored and most neutral cabling ever to hit the marketplace…If I had to further describe it, I’d say it represented the best of both the Edge NL-10 amp and the Burmester 808 preamp, by combining their strongest characteristics. A triumph, pure and simple.” VALHALLA has raised the standard of cable design to new heights. This is truly the extreme reference cable. VALHALLA REFERENCE SPEAKER CABLE consists of forty conductors divided into four groups of ten. Each conductor is made from optimized diameter solid 99.999999% oxygen free copper that has 78 microns of extruded silver on the surface. The surface of each conductor is highly polished before a high precision Micro Mono-Filament wrap is applied. VALHALLA is extremely fast at over 96% the speed of light. The cable has an effective dielectric constant of 1.12, which is incredibly low, the reference point being air or a vacuum, which has a dielectric constant of 1. When it comes to transmitting wide bandwidth at incredible speed, this cable is state of the art. The VALHALLA offers the ultimate in cable technology and musical performance. For the most revealing and dynamic sonic experience you can have, VALHALLA is the only choice. ”The first thing that strikes you when you put the Valhallas into a system is the massive increase in the overall energy level. This is no illusion. The increase in dynamic range and weight is real enough. Just crank the original system to a goodly level and play something loud and dense, about as loud as the system is happy to go. Put on the Valhallas, making sure that you leave the volume the same and repeat the treatment. It will be louder. Quite a bit louder. Loud enough to de-centre your bass drivers as they struggle to cope with the increased energy levels.” HiFi+ Roy Gregory VALHALLA REFERENCE INTERCONNECT is extremely fast at over 87% the speed of light. When it comes to transmitting wide bandwidth at incredible speed, this cable is state of the art. This gives incredible transient response so that no musical detail is lost. This allows one to follow complex and difficult recordings with ease. VALHALLA is ideal for use with high resolution music formats. Each VALHALLA interconnect cable is hand built and terminated with WBT Nextgen Silver RCA phono plugs or gold XLR connectors. The connectors used are selected for their sonic properties and minimal effect on signal speed and coherence. VALHALLA REFERENCE INTERCONNECT consists of 8 conductors made from solid, optimized diameter 99.999999% OFC that has 78 microns of extruded silver on the surface. The surface of each conductor is highly polished before a high precision Micro Mono-Filament wrap is applied. The Micro Mono-Filament construction is extremely mechanically stable with the conductors effectively suspended in inert air, preventing oxidation. VALHALLA REFERENCE INTERCONNECT is extremely fast at over 87% the speed of light. When it comes to transmitting wide bandwidth at incredible speed, this cable is state of the art. This gives incredible transient response so that no musical detail is lost. This allows one to follow complex and difficult recordings with ease. VALHALLA is ideal for use with high resolution music formats. Each VALHALLA interconnect cable is hand built and terminated with WBT Nextgen Silver RCA phono plugs or gold XLR connectors. The connectors used are selected for their sonic properties and minimal effect on signal speed and coherence. ”The first thing that strikes you when you put the Valhallas into a system is the massive increase in the overall energy level. This is no illusion. The increase in dynamic range and weight is real enough. Just crank the original system to a goodly level and play something loud and dense, about as loud as the system is happy to go. Put on the Valhallas, making sure that you leave the volume the same and repeat the treatment. It will be louder. Quite a bit louder. Loud enough to de-centre your bass drivers as they struggle to cope with the increased energy levels.” VALHALLA INTERCONNECT SPECIFICATIONS INSULATION            High purity class 1 extruded FEP CONSTRUCTION Precision Micro Mono-Filament design CONDUCTORS       x 8 optimized diameter solid core MATERIAL 78 microns of silver over 99.999999% OFC CAPACITANCE 22.0pF/ft INDUCTANCE 0.13µH/ft PROPAGATION 80% the speed of light OVERALL SHIELD  97% Braid "Perfection doesn't come cheap. Nordost Odin and Valhalla cables, while representing the state of the art in performance also involve considerable expense. Fortunately, Nordost makes superb cables for every budget. To view their Norse series and Flatline, just click on the link below." "Find out more information about Nordost products on the Nordost website." http://www.nordost.com In order to fully appreciate the full benefits of any Hi Fi or home theater system, all of your components should be wired into the THOR POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. THOR is an elegant, full rack width, 6-way AC mains power distribution unit. THOR features sophisticated circuitry for dealing with mains noise and voltage spikes without limiting dynamic headroom. The unit is wired internally with Nordost Dual Micro Mono-Filament power cable to achieve optimum signal transfer and performance. The key to the outstanding performance of the THOR is the use of Quantum Resonance Technology (QRT™). QRT™ is a proprietary technology which has an amazing ability to lower the noise floor in AC circuits, without filtering the incoming current and voltage. This is achieved through the use of a special QRT™ module which broadcasts a subtle energy field through a coil. This module is constructed using Quantum Resonance Technology (QRT™) treated circuit boards. This device smooths out random electrical noise and negates field interference. Unlike all other “Power Conditioners” on the market, the THOR does not compress the dynamics of a Hi Fi system. THOR also incorporates the use of Polaris-X circuit technology which eliminates product cross-contamination, effectively offering a clean power supply to any hardware plugged into the unit. This proprietary system shunts AC mains-borne noise to ground without compressing the dynamics of the music. This design also isolates each piece of equipment electrically, effectively giving each one a separate AC mains spur line. THOR is manufactured with sophisticated silver-plated copper circuit paths. RoHS compliant silver solder is used throughout the system to improve overall sonic performance. The Nordost THOR is an upgradeable solution to AC mains power distribution. By systematically improving the quality of the input and output power cords, the unit’s performance increases dramatically. THOR features bushings on the base of the unit which will accept a 6mm threaded insert. NORDOST TITANIUM PULSAR POINTS with 6mm threaded inserts can be attached to the unit to control any unwanted resonances. THOR also has full surge protection, offering an unparalleled solution to advanced power distribution. THOR SPECIFICATIONS QRT™ 1X Technology Polaris-X technology Internally wired with Nordost Dual Mono-Filament Cable Silver Solder used throughout. Number of outlets: 6 Type of outlets: US and EUR audio grade unswitched sockets. UK 13amp unswitched mains sockets. Standard mains inlet: IEC fused Mains AC voltage: 190-260VAC Surge Protection Total maximum current: 18Amps Dimensions: 444mm (17.4”) x 85mm (3.34”) x 305mm (12”) Weight: 6Kg ( 13.2Lbs) SHIVA POWER CABLES redefine performance and value, dramatically improving the performance of all audio and video components. SHIVA POWER CABLES provide a much more detailed performance with a lower noise floor. SHIVA POWER CABLES are constructed with our proprietary Micro Mono-Filament technology to enhance audio and video performance. Each cable consists of three silver plated solid OFC conductors suspended in a Micro Mono-Filament design. By using solid core, silver plated oxygen free copper conductors, strand interaction, hot spots and carbonization, which can occur in stranded cables, are eliminated thus ensuring optimum performance. SHIVA POWER CABLE SPECIFICATIONS INSULATION High purity class 1 extruded FEP CONSTRUCTION Precision Micro Mono-Filament design CONDUCTORS x 3 18 AWG solid core MATERIAL 60 microns of silver over 99.99999% OFC CAPACITANCE 10.0pF/ft CONNECTORS IEC/Wall plug US/UK/EUR POWER RATING 20 amp PROPAGATION 80% the speed of light VISHNU POWER CABLES have set a new standard for performance. VISHNU POWER CABLES offer a superb sound stage and increased dynamic range in the audio arena. When used with video components color detail, depth and edge definition are revealed. VISHNU POWER CABLES use our proprietary Micro Mono-Filament technology to enhance audio and video performance. . This cable consists of three solid core conductors. These are made with extruded silver over Oxygen Free Copper conductors of 16 AWG, suspended in a Micro Mono-Filament design. By using solid core extruded silver Oxygen Free Copper conductors, strand interaction, hot spots and carbonization, which can occur in stranded cables, are also eliminated thus ensuring optimum performance. . Due to the use of FEP Micro Mono-Filament construction, which has a very low dielectric constant and minimal insulation contact with the conductor, power is transferred extremely efficiently. Micro Mono-Filament technology increases current flow, improves transmission speed to over 85% the speed of light and dissipates heat. This design lowers the resistance of the cable and means that power loss is extremely low. VISHNU POWER CABLES have set a new standard for performance. VISHNU POWER CABLES offer a superb sound stage and increased dynamic range in the audio arena. When used with video components color detail, depth and edge definition are revealed. VISHNU POWER CABLES use our proprietary Micro Mono-Filament technology to enhance audio and video performance. . This cable consists of three solid core conductors. These are made with extruded silver over Oxygen Free Copper conductors of 16 AWG, suspended in a Micro Mono-Filament design. By using solid core extruded silver Oxygen Free Copper conductors, strand interaction, hot spots and carbonization, which can occur in stranded cables, are also eliminated thus ensuring optimum performance. . Due to the use of FEP Micro Mono-Filament construction, which has a very low dielectric constant and minimal insulation contact with the conductor, power is transferred extremely efficiently. Micro Mono-Filament technology increases current flow, improves transmission speed to over 85% the speed of light and dissipates heat. This design lowers the resistance of tVISHNU POWER CABLE SPECIFICATIONShe cable and means that power loss is extremely low. VISHNU POWER CABLE SPECIFICATIONS INSULATION High purity class 1 extruded FEP CONSTRUCTION Precision Micro Mono-Filament design CONDUCTORS x 3 16 AWG solid core MATERIAL 60 microns of silver over 99.99999% OFC CAPACITANCE 10.0pF/ft CONNECTORS IEC/Wall plug US/UK/EUR POWER RATING 25 amp PROPAGATION 85% the speed of light BRAHMA POWER CABLES are the perfect solution for optimizing the performance of Plasma Screens, Projectors and LCD displays as well as power amplifiers and other audio components. BRAHMA POWER CABLES use our advanced Micro Mono-Filament technology. The surface of each conductor is highly polished before a precision Micro Mono-Filament is helically wrapped around it. A precisely spaced and extremely concentric FEP jacket is then extruded over each conductor. The conductors are made from solid 99.99999 oxygen free copper with an extruded silver surface. The five conductors are then precision wound around one another in order to eliminate any EMI/RFI interference. This design results in a reduction of insulation contact by more than 80%. Each BRAHMA POWER CABLE uses high grade IEC connectors with optimized contact points for improved conductivity. The design of the connector eliminates stress. Heat cycling and vibration will not loosen the contact points. The result is a cable that allows an extremely efficient transfer of power resulting in a superb audio visual performance. BRAHMA POWER CABLE SPECIFICATIONS INSULATION Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) CONSTRUCTION Precision Micro Mono-Filament design CONDUCTORS x 5 16 AWG solid core MATERIAL 60 microns of silver over 99.99999% OFC    CAPACITANCE 8.8pF/ft CONNECTORS IEC/Wall plug US/UK/EUR POWER RATING 30 amp PROPAGATION 85% the speed of light VALHALLA REFERENCE POWER CABLES have redefined the standard of performance in this category. VALHALLA REFERENCE POWER CABLES offer a dramatic sound stage, tremendous dynamic range, and superb articulation of the musical event. When used with video components; clarity, detail, and the natural depth of colors are revealed. VALHALLA REFERENCE POWER CABLES use our new proprietary Dual Micro Mono-Filament technology to enhance audio and video performance. This cable consists of 7 solid extruded silver 16 AWG OFC conductors suspended in a Dual Micro Mono-Filament design. By using solid core extruded silver over OFC conductors, strand interaction, hot spots and carbonization, which can occur in stranded cables, are eliminated ensuring optimum performance. VALHALLA REFERENCE POWER CABLES have a very high propagation speed. This offers vast improvements in all facets of musical and visual performance. Each VALHALLA REFERENCE POWER CABLE is hand built at our factory in the USA using highest quality Gold Plated connectors. Each cable uses the highest grade IEC connectors with triple gold plated Oxygen Free Copper contacts for improved conductivity. The design of the connector eliminates stress so that heat cycling and vibration will not loosen the contact points. IEC and AC Main Plugs are used in each cable. VALHALLA POWER CABLE SPECIFICATIONS INSULATION High purity class 1 extruded FEP CONSTRUCTION Precision Dual Micro Mono-Filament design CONDUCTORS x 7 16 AWG solid core MATERIAL 70 microns of silver over 9.999999% OFC CAPACITANCE 8.0pF/ft CONNECTORS IEC/Wall plug US/UK/EUR POWER RATING 60 amp PROPAGATION 91% the speed of light "Perfection doesn't come cheap. Nordost Odin and Valhalla cables, while representing the state of the art in performance also involve considerable expense. Fortunately, Nordost makes superb cables for every budget. To view their Norse series and Flatline, just click on the link below." "Find out more information about Nordost products on the Nordost website." http://www.nordost.com Questions? Call us: 212.924.8600